A PILGRIM was arrested after he became angry about condoms being
thrown at him in a mainly friendly confrontation between marchers
and about 2000 demonstrators from homosexual, atheist and women's
rights groups.

The stand-off at the corner of Anzac Parade and Moore Park Road
was good-natured and several pilgrims said they would pray for the
protesters.

More than 2000 protesters against the Pope's visit marched
towards Moore Park yesterday after a rally condemning the church's
stand on homosexuals, condoms and abortion.

A young man, who spoke with an Australian accent and had a
pilgrim's tag around his neck and a pilgrim's backpack, tried to
break through police lines to attack the protesters.

The man had been giving protesters the finger. Four police
officers subdued the pilgrim.

The 19-year-old from Newcastle was handcuffed and put in a paddy
wagon after he attacked Stefan Joksic, 23, of Newtown who was
wearing a T-shirt with the slogan "Pope go Homo".

"He lunged and hit me on the side of the neck before police
dragged him away. He was yelling out 'you will all go to hell'," Mr
Joksic said.

Asked if he thought the T-shirt had provoked the attack Mr
Joksic said: "Nobody deserves to be beaten over a T-shirt."

The pilgrim was released and police said it would be up to the
protester if charges were laid.